World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariesschrumpfen
Pronunciation / Transliteration: shrump-fen
"Die Ersparnisse schrumpfen durch die Inflation langsam zusammen."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To reduce, diminish, or destroy something gradually over a period of time.
"Constant budget cuts will whittle away at our resources until nothing is left." - 2
To carve or shape wood by repeatedly cutting small slices from it.
"He sat on the porch, using his pocketknife to whittle away a piece of pine."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The verb whittle derives from Old English 'hwitan', meaning to hone or sharpen, related to 'hwæt' (sharp). The particle 'away' signifies removal or reduction, combining in Middle and Modern English to describe the gradual carving down of material or metaphorical erosion.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Whittle away"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Whittle away" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
éroder
Transliteration: e-ro-de
"Le temps a fini par éroder leur patience."
schrumpfen
Transliteration: shrump-fen
"Die Ersparnisse schrumpfen durch die Inflation langsam zusammen."
scalar via
Transliteration: ska-lar vi-a
Script: scalfire
"Le polemiche hanno finito per scalfire la sua autorità."
socavar
Transliteration: so-ca-bar
"La crisis económica comenzó a socavar la confianza del consumidor."
minar
Transliteration: mi-nar
"Os escândalos conseguiram minar a credibilidade do governo."
कम करना
Transliteration: kam karna
"मुद्रास्फीति ने हमारी बचत को कम कर दिया है।"
一点点侵蚀
Transliteration: yī diǎn diǎn qīn shí
"这些日常开销会一点点侵蚀你的积蓄。"
야금야금 깎아먹다
Transliteration: yageum-yageum kkak-a-meok-da
"지출이 늘어나면서 저축액이 야금야금 깎아먹혔다."
徐々に削る
Transliteration: jojo ni kezuru
"ストレスが彼の気力を徐々に削っていった。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all German termsExplore Nuanced Synonyms for "Whittle away"
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